The plaza, paved with jade-white stones, was filled with countless figures seated throughout.
These were all influential forces from various parts of the Eastern Region.
Platters of snacks and fruits were laid on the tables.
This time, eighty percent of the major forces of the Human Clan in the Eastern Region had come to the exchange meeting.
In the past, it was usually only fifty or sixty percent.
The reason more had come this time was to pressure Lu Qian and suppress the Seven Star Sect together.
Recently, Lu Qian had been stirring up unrest in the Eastern Region.
If it weren’t for a Great Ascension Patriarch sitting in the Seven Star Sect, everyone would have already stormed their doors and fought it out physically.
This time, everyone strongly backed the Dao Sovereign and Buddhist Patriarch.
First, because their sects didn’t fear the Seven Star Sect, and second, because these two could be considered the top cultivators among the Tribulation Stage.
If the two joined forces, even Lu Qian would find it troublesome.
“This exchange meeting, we must make Lu Qian bow her head and admit her mistakes! She must also compensate us for our losses!”
“That’s right! She smashed up a major event at my sect and even filmed it to spread everywhere! Our sect’s income dropped by at least forty percent!”
“Exactly, who doesn’t have some secrets behind closed doors? I don’t believe the Seven Star Sect has none at all!”
The crowd in the plaza complained in dissatisfaction, and from time to time, their eyes drifted to the Treasure Hall, hoping that when the doors opened, it would be Lu Qian bowing her head in apology.
Bang!
The door wasn’t pushed open—it was sent flying out.
Whoosh!
Two figures shot out, skimming across the ground for dozens of meters before barely coming to a halt.
When everyone saw the two figures clearly, they couldn’t help but gasp.
It was the Dao Sovereign and the Buddhist Patriarch!
The two were disheveled, with blood at the corners of their mouths.
The Dao Sovereign’s whisk was dirtied, his finger pointing at Lu Qian.
“This woman is too terrifying! Please, everyone, help me!”
Seeing the state of the Dao Sovereign and the Buddhist Patriarch, everyone’s hearts sank.
Even their combined strength wasn’t enough!
Buzz!
With a spatial ripple, a slender figure appeared.
Her beautiful eyes swept over the crowd, her voice cold.
“This is it? You all keep saying you want me to bow and apologize, but now it seems all you can do is bark like dogs.”
Her words made everyone’s faces flush red.
“Benefactor Lu! Do not be arrogant! Do you really think we have no way to deal with you?”
The Buddhist Patriarch, rarely emotional, now showed agitation—normally, he was always kindly and gentle.
“Right! That’s true! So what if she’s strong? She’s just one person!”
“Exactly! There’s so many of us here! Are we afraid of just her?”
Lu Qian replied indifferently.
“If that’s the case, come at me all at once. It saves me the trouble of dealing with you one by one.”
“Lu Sect Leader, you truly have an arrogant mouth. Today, I, Dao Brother, will challenge you.”
A middle-aged man carrying a large blade on his back stood up, with a thick beard and a rough face, a long scar running from his eye to his chin.
Everyone looked.
“It’s actually Kuang Dao! I heard this guy once fought a Tribulation Stage cultivator for a hundred rounds without defeat.”
“He’s powerful, but even so, he’s still only Heavenly Unity Stage. Lu Qian is a real Tribulation Stage, and not an ordinary one at that.”
Beside Kuang Dao, three people suddenly sent their true energy toward him.
“Dao Brother, we’ll lend you a hand!”
In an instant, Kuang Dao’s aura soared, approaching the Tribulation Stage.
Feeling the influx of true energy, Kuang Dao laughed.
“Hahaha! Many thanks, brothers!”
His gaze burned as he looked at Lu Qian in the sky, drawing the great blade from his back.
“Lu Sect Leader! Please accept my strike!”
With a roar, Kuang Dao leaped upward.
Lu Qian watched his charge, her expression unmoved.
“Good Sword Intent, but unfortunately, the Heavenly Unity Stage is still only the Heavenly Unity Stage.”
With that, she lightly tapped her finger.
The rampaging Sword Intent froze midair, and the next moment, Kuang Dao was sent flying backward.
“……”
The crowd fell silent as death.
At that moment, the clear sky turned gloomy, reflecting the heaviness in everyone’s hearts.
“Enough! Don’t be arrogant!”
The Buddhist Patriarch stepped forward, chanting a mantra as golden light radiated from his body.
“Everyone! Please lend us your strength!”
The Dao Sovereign followed closely, forming a hand seal as white light flared.
“Yes! Let’s attack together!”
“Good! Let us aid the Dao Sovereign and Buddhist Patriarch!”
With that, everyone pooled their power into the Dao Sovereign and Buddhist Patriarch.
Clang!
A bell sounded, and the phantom of a giant bell appeared.
“Suppress!”
With a roar, the bell’s image solidified, crashing down toward Lu Qian.
“Good! Let me see your strength!”
Lu Qian flipped her palm, and a tiny sword floated above it.
With true energy infused, the sword’s cry echoed to the heavens.
“Go!”
Lu Qian spoke softly.
Whoosh!
The small sword shot toward the giant bell, and in a matter of breaths, the two collided.
There was no wave of true energy, no explosion—only the sound of porcelain shattering.
Crack!
Bang!
The giant bell lasted barely a moment before breaking apart.
“Ah!”
As the bell shattered, the crowd was struck by backlash.
The stronger ones merely had their energies thrown into chaos; the weaker ones spat out blood.
“How terrifying!”
The Dao Sovereign’s finger trembled, pointing at Lu Qian, then his hand flopped to the ground and he fainted with his head tilted.
The Buddhist Patriarch fared no better; he spat out at least a liter of blood with a “wah” before collapsing without a word.
Amid the chaos, no one noticed the “unconscious” Dao Sovereign secretly cracking open an eye.
Seeing the Buddhist Patriarch’s exaggerated acting, he nearly lost control of his expression.
“What do we do! Even together, we can’t match her! Even the Dao Sovereign and Buddhist Patriarch are gravely wounded and unconscious!”
“Damn it! Let’s try again!”
“Try again? How? The strongest Dao Sovereign and Buddhist Patriarch have both fallen! How could the rest of us possibly succeed?”
At this moment, despair filled everyone’s hearts.
Even combined, they were defeated.
With the Dao Sovereign and Buddhist Patriarch gravely injured, Lu Qian’s aura pressed down, making it hard to breathe.
Finally, after a long silence, someone spoke up.
“Our sect is willing to follow the Seven Star Sect from now on!”
“So is ours!”
“Us too!”
“We all submit to Lu Sect Leader!”
Floating in midair, Lu Qian looked down at the crowd, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.
“Since that’s the case, I suppose I’ll reluctantly accept your offer.”
Thus, the result of the Yunlong Mountain exchange meeting ended with all factions supporting the Seven Star Sect as the leader.
Inside the Treasure Hall, Wang Yan’er looked at Lu Qian, who had won the honorary title, and said sourly.
“Tsk tsk, should I call you Lu Sect Leader or Alliance Leader Lu from now on?”
Lu Qian replied playfully.
“I don’t mind if you call me—Elder Sister.”
“You!”
Wang Yan’er’s eyes widened.
“Lu! I didn’t expect you to be so shameless!”
Lu Qian laughed coldly.
“Heh! Don’t think I don’t know your little schemes, Wang Yan’er. Let me tell you, even if you do come in one day, you’d better pour me tea and call me Elder Sister properly!”